By Atlantic Reports

The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has attributed the deaths of five children from one family in Danbare Ward, Layin Dutse, Kumbotso Local Government Area, to diphtheria.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Director-General Prof. Muhammad Adamu-Abbas said the children were aged between one and 13 years.

He said the investigation identified six affected children linked to the household, five of whom died. The centre attributed the deaths to delayed presentation for treatment and gaps in vaccination.

The findings were based on case definitions and verbal autopsy, which uses information about symptoms and circumstances before death to assess the likely cause. The statement did not report laboratory confirmation.

Sixth Child Recovered After Treatment

Adamu-Abbas said the surviving child, aged four, was admitted on October 1 with mild diphtheria and discharged on October 4.

A follow-up assessment on October 12 found the child well, according to the centre.

Reported symptoms among the cases included fever, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, neck swelling and white patches on the tonsils.

The centre also reported serious clinical complications, including anaemia, neurological problems and risk of upper airway obstruction.

Vaccination History Incomplete

According to KNCDC, three of the five children who died were unvaccinated.

The mother reported that the other two had received immunisation, but their routine vaccination cards were unavailable, having reportedly been lost during relocation.

That distinction matters: the absence of cards does not establish that those two children were unvaccinated, and the statement did not clarify which doses they had received.

The account also did not explain the barriers that contributed to missed vaccination or delayed access to care.

Centre Urges Early Care and Missed-Dose Vaccination

Adamu-Abbas urged caregivers to visit their nearest primary healthcare facility for missed immunisation doses and report unusual illnesses to health facilities or local Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers.

He warned against delaying care or relying on self-medication.

“Multiple child deaths in one household represent a serious public health signal,” he said.

The centre called on residents to support routine immunisation and public health response efforts.

The statement did not detail contact tracing, preventive treatment for close contacts or vaccination activities around the affected household. Clear information on those measures will be important in understanding the response and protecting other children in the community.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.